Ibadan NE/SE Debate: SDP, NNPP, and LP Candidates Tackle Incumbent Rep over Failed Promises

• Outline Policies if elected
• Agboworin, Lam-Adesina Absent at Debate

By Oyeniyi Esan

The popular Ibadan-based comedy-themed radio station, 32fm 94.9, has continued to embrace proper cross-examination of aspiring candidates at the National House of Representatives, as a bid to encourage good governance and better representation of the people in the forthcoming election.

In its second edition of Political Debate anchored by Peter Olasupo, Captain P2, welcomed the trio of Deji Aboderin-Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ajiboye Ibraheem Olanrewaju of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and Ganiyu Akinbode Babalola – Labour Party (LP), vying to represent Ibadan North East/South East Federal constituencies of Nigeria at the National Assembly as Dapo Lam Adeshina of All Progressives Party and Adigun Abass Adekunle of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) were notably absent.

Contestants bore their thought on substantial issues of governance affecting the constituency particularly the poor state of education, unhealthy environmental conditions, and insecurity occasioned by hooliganism and poverty, which is by corruption and unaccountability.

Ajiboye Ibrahim Olanrewaju of the New Nigeria People’s Party laments the poor representation of the constituency by past and incumbent lawmakers, “If the former representatives have done their jobs, we won’t have such deteriorated conditions of our schools, and with consideration of the high numbers. Their works have spoken for them, and we have seen the best they can offer.  We won’t come out to go, if they have done their jobs appropriately.

 Ajiboye popularly called ‘Omo Iya eleja’ promised to utilize his basic salary for the good of his constituency.

“I will donate my basic salary to the empowerment, not my allowances. I have been engaging the youths in various empowerment programs with my personal resources without wanting anything in return.”

Deji Aboderin of the Social Democratic Party, equally laments, “The state of education in our country’s constitution demands the government to provide education to all with preferences, by mandating effective and quality education across the entire country, and not just the constituency.

“We don’t have the right government that is ready for the right job. My work is to go to the federal seat and argue for the constitutional right to education for all persons at all levels. I will embrace the oversight function, and we will monitor the government to do the job properly.

“Since 1999, the Nigerian government fails in area of social services and welfarism. My administration, I am not breaking people’s legs by giving them motorcycles known as Okadas. I am not making them disable, because I promise to create three centers across all local governments in the constituency. Any form of empowerment at the eve of election is slavery.    

Ganiyu Akinbode Babalola of the Labour Party laments the inefficiency of the lawmakers, “our educational system is ruined, and to rescue such destruction we have to partner with international bodies, and the government must be made answerable for all. We will work on restructuring in Nigeria, and we mustn’t continue with this system. 

“We are victims of misrepresentation as regards growth and development, and I aim to bring the government to the people. We lack the presence of federal government, and people needs to know that they are the government in the pure sense.  We are not blind to the state of the environment, and the people needs better representative as a need to give to the society what belongs to them.  

The three contestants unanimously lament the absence of the incumbent and past representatives who are equally vying for the position under the platforms of the two dominant parties, PDP and APC, in the country respectively.